| [ Summary ] |
The dialysis patient population in Japan is gradually increasing, reaching 237,710 persons at the end of 2003. Over the past decade, the number of evening dialysis patients has been decreasing, whereas the number of daytime dialysis patients has been growing. The number of CAPD patients has also tended to decrease. Moreover, dialysis sessions (three times a week) are becoming shorter for facility hemodialysis patients. The average dialysis time of 3.97 hours at the end of 2002 has remained at virtually the same level as the average Kt/V (average 1.32) seen at the end of 2002. Since 1995, more patients have used PS dialyzers, while fewer patients have switched to regenerated cellulose dialyzers. However, the proportion of patients using synthetic membranes, other than PS and improved cellulose-type membranes, has hardly changed. The mortality risk factor, after beginning dialysis treatment, has declined with each passing year. The mortality risk factor for patients one year after beginning dialysis in the year 2000 is 0.410 greater that for such patients in 1983. |